Stenographic machine.



W. J. KEHOE. STENOGRAPHIG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10. 1910.

960,951 Patented June 7,1910

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. J. KEHOE. STENOGRAPHIG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1910.

60,951 Patented June 7, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. J. KEHOE. STENOGRAPHIU MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.10, 1910.

960,95 1 Patented June 7, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

lllllllim In "H!" By 7426 wr ysr W. J. KEHOE.

STENOGRAPHIO MACHINE. I APPLIOATION FILED JAN.10, 1910.

960,951 Patentd June 7, 1910.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4Q W. J. KEHOE.

STENOGRAPHIG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10. 1910.

Patented June 7, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

fifne 66G 4 W. J. KEHOE.

STENOGRAPHIG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10. 1910.

Patented June 7, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 0.

WILLIAM J. KEHOE, OF WASHINGTON,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented June 7, 19M).

Application filed January 1'0, 1910. Serial No. 537,328.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. KEHOE, a citizen of the United States,residing in Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Stenographic Machines, of which the followingis a specification.-

My present invention relates to stemgraphic machines of the kind shownin Letters Patent of the United States, No. 940,255, granted to meNovember 16, 1909 and the primary object of my invention is to soimprove machines of this class that they may in a new way be operatednoiselessly and with absolute precision in the feed of the paper and theprinting of the characters. I have also improved the details ofconstruction of the machine in the manner hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 shows a top plan view of astenographic machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 shows alongitudinal or sectional view thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fi 3is a detail view in section of the paper eed tension roller. Fig. l is asimilar view of the combined paper feed' roller and platen. Fig. 5 showsa transverse section of the machine on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 isa similar view on the line 66 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailview in section showing particularly the mechanism for operating thecombined paper feed roller and platen. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of thesame. Fig. 9 shows a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 10 is a detailView of the paper feed tension roller and certain parts connectedtherewith. Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the fingerkeys, the spacing keys and the manner in which they are mounted. It alsoshows the feed pawl operating lever and its adjusting devices. Fig. 12is a detail view in section of the spacing device.

The base or bed plate comprises a back part A, sides A, A, and a frontpart A, the center or middle part being cut away. This bed plate may bemade of sheet metal, flanged as shown at a to strengthen it, and it maybe supported on feet a made of soft material as usual.

To the back part A of the base are secured front and rear brackets B, Bwhich support the ribbon spools and paper feed ro lers and platen andcertatin other arts cotiperating therewith which will be ereinafterspecified. The rear bracket B is formed at opposite ends with feet 72which are secured to the bed plate A and these are formed with verticalstandards I) joined by a connecting plate b The front bracket B has feetsecured to the bed plate and standards 6 extending upwardly from thefeet and the standards are joined by a connecting plate 6 which is ofthe form shown in Fig. 1, i. e., it is bent forwardly from the standardsat its opposite ends so that its middle portion is held in a verticalplane in front of the standards. The brackets B and B are spaced asuflicient distance apart to accommodate between them the ribbon spools,the paper feed mechanism and their actuating devices. Preferably one ormore rods B are employed to connect the brackets, as shown, in order. tobrace or stifl'en them.

- The ribbon spools O are supported in the brackets by means of pivotscrews 0 having tapered or conical ends fitting corresponding sockets inthe axles c of the spools. These screws are adjustable and hold thespools in such manner that they may run freely and noiselessly. Eachspool is connected with a vertically arranged spur wheel C which isadapted to be driven by a train of gears carried by a lever D pivoted atd to the rear bracket B intermediate its opposite ends.-

The outermost spur wheel (2 is permanently in mesh with an intermediatespur wheel at which meshes with a pinion d attached to the paper feedroller and platen I. The lever is formed with a downwardly projectingarm a? which bears against a spring bar F resting at opposite ends onpins f near the pivots of the spools C and it has midway between itsends a depressed portion 61 di rectly under the pivot point of the leverD. The arm d is ada ted to butt against either of the stop pins d onopposite sides of the pivot 02, the arrangement being such that when thelever is thrown over to either side to bring the spur wheel (2 intoengagement with either of the spur wheels 0, the lever will be held bythe spring F against one of the stops d while the spur wheel d is heldin engagement with the wheel C. In this way while the gearing isproperly efi'ected undue pressure or friction between the gears d and Ois prevented, and thus the ease with which the machine is operated ismaterially increased. The lever D with the gears d, d ma be held in aninoperative position so as to isconnect the gears 03, C by bringmounteda feed roller H. The paper is wound up after being printed upon on aspool G The position of the guide 9 may be regulated by the adjustingdevices g and the position of the feed roller H may be ad usted by meansof the set screw it carried y the bracket 9 and engaging a tongue h inthe recessed portion h of the plate It see Fig. 10). The bracket 9extends over t e top of the rear bracket B and is formed with a foot gsecured to the bed plate by means of the same screw which secures thereto one of the feet I) of the rear bracket B.

The paper feed roller H is preferably constructed in the manner shown inFig. 3. It comprises a hollow metal bushing e closed at opposite ends bycaps e and it has a covering of hard rubber e A. rod or shaft 6 extendsthrough the caps and carries on its rear end a spur wheel [t meshingwith a corresponding wheel 71? of the same size connected to revolvewith the paper feed roller and platen I so that the roller H is drivenat the same speed as the roller I which latter roller is of the samediameter as the roller H, and this roller I has a bushing 2' closed atone end by a cap 71' to which the pinion d is secured, and which alsocarries the pinion h before mentioned. The bushing has at its oppositeend a forwardly projecting hollow arm 6 on which are mounted flangedrings i i carrying the ratchet wheels J and K. The bushing 11 has a hardrubber covering 2' and the ratchet wheels J and K are made of hardrubber. The paper passes between the rollers H and I and then over aguide I which directs the paper across the plane of the inking ribbonand prevents it from saggin or dropping down below the feed rollersefore passing across the type. It will be understood that the aper feedroller I is also the impression ro er or platen of the machine.

The roller I is mounted to revolve about a horizontal axis by means ofpivot screws I which extend through the front and rear brackets B, B inline with the middle longitudinal axis of the machine. These pivotscrews are adjustable in the brackets and their inner ends are taperedor coned and fit in corresponding sockets i in the ends of the cap 71and arm i In this way the feed roller 1s made to revolve easily andsmoothly and as it is hollow its momentum is small and the feed of thepaper is regular and even.

The detent wheelK, which is made of comparatively hard rubber, isrigidly connected with the roller I, and is engaged by a pawl k carriedby an arm k connected to an arm B projecting upwardly from the frontbracket B. The arm is is adjustably connected with the bracket arm B sothat the pawl k may be adjusted properly relatively to the ratchet wheelK. A spring k carried by the arm B bears on the pawl k and holds ityieldingly in engagement with the ratchet wheel K. The arm It" issecured in place by a set screw K. This detent pawl is for the purposeof preventing an overthrow of the ratchet wheel and for also preventinga return movement of the roller I. The detent pawl is assisted in thesefunctions by means of a tooth is carried by the feed frame L which isadapted to engage the ratchet wheel K in the manner shown. As will behereinafter explained the frame L is moved to a slight extentvertically. When it rises the tooth is is withdrawn from the path of theratchet wheel K so that the latter may be turned contrariwise to thehands of a watch, but when the frame L descends, the tooth engages theratchet wheel and holds it firmly against forward movement and it alsoinsures that the two ratchet wheels and the impression roller I shall bemoved through the space of one tooth only at each operation. The frame Lsurrounds the ratchet wheels K and J as clearly shown in Fig. 7, and itsvertical part Z is connected with a horizontal base ortion Z (see Fig.11) which is provide with a central opening Z throu h which the typedends of the keys exten as shown in Fig. 11. This base portion Z isconnected with a lever L extending sidewise at right angles to the axisof the feed roller I and at its outer end this lever is attached to apivot bar Z pivoted at opposite ends to adjustable set screws Z mountedin a bracket L attached to the bed plate of the machine. The pivotscrews Z" have tapered or coned ends entering corre-V s onding socketsin the ends of the bar Z 11 this bar Z is mounted a hub l carrying ahandle Z to which is adj ustably secured the end of a coiled spring Zsurrounding the hub Z and having its opposite ends connected with an armZ pro ecting from the bracket L. In this way the frame L is pivotallyand yieldingly mounted. Normally the spring Z depresses or holds downthe frame L and when this frame is raised it is raised against thetension of the spring 1-, which tension may be regulated in the mannerbefore specified.

The upward movement of the frame L is limited by a stop M. This consistsof a oke m rigidly secured to the under side 0 the base of the frame Land extending down beswam tween the buffers or cushions N. At its lowerend the yoke m is attached to a rod m which extends through an opening min the base of the buffer and through an openingI-m in the bed late A.This rod carries a clishion m of so material, the position of which maybe adjusted by means of an adjusting nut we carried by the rod m. Whenthe frame L is moved upwardly, the cushion m strikes against the underside *of the bed plate and thus limits the vertical movement of theframe The buffer or cushion ,N is preferabl of the form shown consistingof two mem ers n, the upper ends of which are covered by soft materlaln, such as felt, and a base portion n which is attached to the bedplate. The members n are arranged on opposite sides of the yoke m andthey are adapted to receive thetype bearing ends of the key levers whichare arranged, as in my prior patent, on opposite sides of the middlelongitudinal axis of the machine.

The ratchet wheel J is engaged by a pawl J pivotally mounted on the feedframe L. This pawl has a downwardly projecting portion 7' engaging theratchet wheel and an outwardly pro ecting portion 7'' actingincidentally as a weight to hold the pawl in enga ement with the ratchetwheel but principa y as a handle by means of which the pawl may bedisengaged from the ratchet wheel. A spring j carried by the frame Lengages the pawl J and normally holds it in engagement with the wheel JThe pawl J is preferably made of fiber, hard rubber or similar materialin order to reduce noise to a minimum and actual practice has shown thatwhen such a pawl is used in connection with a ratchet wheel made of hardrubber or similar material the noise of the machine may be considerednegligible.

The general arrangement of thekey levers R is shown in Fig. 11. Eachlever carries at its front end a finger piece 1" and each is provided atits rear end with a type 1' There are preferably five levers R on eachside of the middle lon itudinal axis of the machine. One set of eversreferably carries type to mark dots, while the other set carries type tomark dashes and the rear ends of the levers are so formedas to carry thetype in a straight line, one behind the other slightly to one side ofthe middle longitudinal axis of the machine. The faces or upper ends ofthe type are all normally held in the same horizontal planeand thedistance between the two rows of types is considerably less than thedistance between the teeth of the ratchet wheel J for the purposedescribed in my patent before mentioned, and in other patents heretoforegranted to me. I also provide spacing key levers S, one on each side ofthe machine, each having a finger piece 8 and each connected at its rearend with a spacing frame S which is pivotally mounted in the mannerhereinafter described and which at its rear end has an upwardlyprojecting portion .9? adapted to engage the under side of the base ofthe frame L which is provided with a cushion of soft material w toprevent noise. A similar cushion w on the under side of the base of theframe L is provided to prevent the metallic key levers from coming indirect contact with the metallic frame L. In this way the noise, whichwould be incident to the striking of the keys against the pawl operatingframe, is prevented. The upward movement of the front ends of thespacing levers is limited by stops 8 On opposite sides of the machineare mount-- ed on the bed plate standards T to the tops of which aresecured a top plate T, to the under side of which midway between itsopposite ends is attached a block T arranged in line with thelongitudinal middle axis of the machine. The spacing levers S arepivotally connected to the block T by a rod t projecting laterally fromthis block, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 12, and the key levers R arepivotally connected with the standards T and the block T in the mannernext to be described.

Each key lever B carries a pivot rod U. Each rod is secured to its keylever preferably by means of a sheet metal clip U which may be attachedto the key lever in any suitable way and which is rigidly attached tothe pivot bar. The inner ends of the pivot bars are tapered or coned andenter corresponding sockets in the block- T The outer ends of the pivotbars are also tapered or coned and enter corresponding sockets in theinner ends of the adjustable screws V extending transversely through thestandards T. In this way the key levers may be mounted to turn easilyand uniformly. The rods being of considerable length there is no dangerof such sidewise movement of the key levers as to cause the type r tomove out of alinement which is of great importance in my machine. Eachkey lever is held normally depressed at its rear end by means of a lightcoiled spring W attached to the under side of the lever and connected tothe rear portion A of the bed plate.

The general operation of the machine is similar to that of othermachines of this class. It will be understood that the inking ribbon iswound from one spool to the other over the type and beneath theimpression roller and that the strip or ribbon of paper is fed beneaththe impremion roller above the inkin ribbon. When the ribbon is wound ofrom one spool to the other the lever D may be thrown over to theopposite side so as to cause the empty spool to wind the ribbon from theother spool. Each time that a key lever is depressed it not only causesan impression to be made on the paper, but it also raises the feed platethus causing the pawl J to engage a new tooth in the ratchet wheel andwhen the key thus actuated is released, the pawl carrying frame 1Ldescends and the pawl J engaging the ratchet wheel J causes the feedroller to be turned the space of one tooth to thus actuate the ribbonfeed mechanism and also the paper feed mechanism. My machine is soconstructed that keys on opposite sides of the machine may be actuatedsimultaneously or separately so as to simultaneously or separately printdots and dashes. The mechanism is so constructed and arranged that theparts may be operated with great delicacy of touch and with no Obectionable noise.

The key levers and the spacing levers can be 0 erated rapidly withoutbeing in any way indered by air pressure. In the machines of my formerpatents, a s acing plate was provided which, it was ound, produced inrapid operation an air pressure which interfered with the action of themachine. By my present improvements this spacing plate is eliminated andis replaced by devices where such air pressure is avoided. I have foundthat the action of the machine is materially improved by provid ing apawl carrying frame which is ivotally mounted at one side of the machineto move about an axis parallel with the axes of the feed rollers.

It will be observed that the pivot bars U are in the same horizontalplane with the under side of the laten I, that is, in the samehorizontal pl ane with the printing point. In this way a betterimpression an easier action is efi'ected.

I claim as my invention 2- 1. In a stenographic machine, the combinationof the base late, the front and rear vertically arranged rackets securedthereto, ribbon spools and pa er feed rollers ar-. ranged between thebrac ets, and adjustable pivot screws on which the spools and rollersare mounted.

2. In a stenographic machine, the combination of the base plate, thefront and rear vertically arranged brackets secured thereto, a bracinrod connectin said brackets, ribbon spoo and paper eed rollers arrangedbetween the brackets, and means for pivotally mounting said spools androllers.

3. In a stenographic machine, the combination of the base plate, thefront and rear vertically arranged brackets secured thereto, ribbonspools mounted between said brackets, a paper feed roller and platenpivotally mounted between the brackets. an other paper feed rollerbetween the brackets, a spring plate in which it is mounted having arecessed ortion provided with a spring tongue, and a bracket to whichsaid spring ee eai otally mounted between the brackets, a

ratchet wheel of relatively soft material connected with one of thepaper feed rollers, a vertically moving frame also arranged between thebrackets, a pawl of relativelysoft material engaging said ratchet wheel,a detent pawl mounted on the front bracket, and means for actuating thefeed frame.

5. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a paper feed roller andplaten, a vertically moving feed frame, a ratchet wheel connectedwiththe feed roller, a pawl carried by the feed frame and engaging theratchet wheel, and a tooth carried by the frame and also engaging saidratchet wheel.

6. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a paper feed roller andplaten, a vertically movlng frame, a ratchet wheel connected with thefeed roller, a pawl carried by the feed frame and engaging the ratchetwheel, another ratchet wheel connected with the feed roller, a'detentpawl engaging it, and a tooth carried by the feed frame engaging one ofsaid ratchet wheels.

7. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a paper feed roller, avertically moving feed frame, ratchet mechanism connecting the feedroller and the feed frame, a lever extending away from the feed frame ina transverse direction relatively to the axis of the feed roller, meansfor pivoting said lever to move about an axis parallel with the axis ofthe feed roller, and means for moving said lever and feedframevertically.

8. The combination of a pa er feed roller, a vertically moving feedrame, ratchet mechanism connecting the feed roller and .feed frame, alever connected with the feed frame and extending transverselyrelatively to the axis of the feed roller, means for yieldingly andpivotally mounting said lever to move about an axis arallel with theaxis of the feed roller, an finger keys mounted to raise the inner endof said lever and to lift the feed frame. 7

9. The combination of a paper feed roller, a vertically moving feedframe, ratchet mechanism connecting the feed roller and feed frame, ayoke attached to the lower portion of the feed frame, a rod connectedtherewith, and an adjustable cushion carried by said rod.

10. The combination with a paper feed roller and platen, of two sets ofkey levers arranged on o posite sides of the middle longitudinal axis ofthe machine and having two series of types arranged on opposite sides ofsaid axis, a buffer arranged beneath the type bearing portions of thekey levers, a vertically moving feed frame, ratchet mechanism connectingthe feed frame with the paper feed roller, a lever connected with saidpaper feed frame, and means for pivotally mounting said lever.

11. In a steno aphic machine, the combination of the ed plate, front andrear vertically arranged brackets, a paper feed roller and platenarranged between said brackets and consisting of a hollow bushingcovered with relatively soft material, a vertically' moving feed framesurrounding said paper feed roller, a ratchet wheel mounted on saidroller made of relatively soft material, a pawl-0f relatively softmaterial carried by the feed frame and engaging said ratchet wheel,another ratchet wheel of relatively soft material carried by the feedrollfir, and a detent pawl cooperating therewit 12. In a stenographicmachine, the combination of the bed late, a paper feed roller or laten,a vertica y moving feed frame, rate et mechanism connecting the feedframe and platen, two sets of key levers arranged on opposite sides ofthe machine and of the key levers, ivot bars attached to thekey levers,and a justable screws in which the ends of said bars are mounted.

13. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a paper feed rollerand platen,

a vertically moving feed frame, ratchet mechanism connecting the feedframe and laten, a lever connected with the feed rame, adjustableyielding devices for pivotally mounting said feed frame, spacing keysadapted to raise said feed frame indeendently of any movement of the keyevers, key levers adapted to raise said frame without moving the spacinglevers, standards on opposite sides of the bed plate, pivot rodsconnected with the key levers, and adjustable screws carried by thestandards engaging the pivot rods.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM J. KEHOE. Witnesses:

LLOYD B. WIGHT, M. E. BUBRELL,

